THE METHODS OF STAINING MICROBES 77 



for thirty minutes. They are then decolourised in 

 weak hydrochloric acid, and after - stained with 

 methylene blue. By this means the spores are 

 stained red and the bacilli blue. 



Anthrax- bacilli and spores may also be stained 

 with an aqueous solution of gentian violet, fuchsine, 

 or any of the aniline dyes ; if the cover-glass pre- 

 paration is first passed ten or eleven times through 

 the Bunsen flame. 



Sections of anthracic tissues are well stained by 

 Gram's method, and after - stained with picro- 

 carminate of ammonia, or eosin. 



The bacillus of glanders is stained by the method 

 of Schlitz. The sections are placed in an alcoholic 

 potash solution of methylene blue 1 for twenty-four 

 hours. They are then washed in acidulated water, 2 

 transferred for five minutes to 50 per cent, alcohol, 

 ten minutes to absolute alcohol, clarified in oil of 

 cloves, and finally mounted in Canada balsam. As 

 already stated, the bacillus of glanders (Bacillus 

 mallei) may be stained by Klihne's methylene blue 

 method. 



There are three principal methods for staining the 

 bacillus of syphilis. (1) Lustgarten's method con- 

 sists in placing the sections of syphilitic tissues, etc., 

 for about twenty-four hours in a solution containing 

 100 cc. of aniline-water (5 per cent.) and 11 cc. of a 

 saturated alcoholic solution of gentian violet. They 

 are now heated for two hours at 60 C. After this 



1 This stain contains equal parts of a concentrated alcoholic 

 methylene blue solution and a solution of potash (1 in 10,000). 

 - Water containing 5 per cent, of acetic acid. 



